Senior Horse Superstar Spotlight: Consul

A few weeks ago, I was perusing through my Facebook news feed when I stumbled upon a video from the 2013 KWPN Keuring of a very handsome stallion that I've admired for as long as I can remember: Consul. I remember drooling over his big white blaze and four white socks in the Iron Spring Farm magazine ads as a young rider, and then—as soon as my parents granted me internet access—frequenting the farm's website to look for new Consul photos and videos.

The video—which you can see at the bottom of this post—brought me back to my childhood, watching with a smile as the handsome stallion played around the triangle. And then it hit me: this horse is 29 years old.

As you know by now, I've seen and cared for a lot of senior horses in my day. But it's been a very long time since I've seen a nearly 30-year-old horse look and act so incredibly young. I decided I wanted to find out how the team at Iron Spring Farm (ISF) keeps Consul looking and feeling so great. I sent some questions to Christine DeHerrera, who works with ISF, and she collected the answers:

Consul is one of Iron Spring Farm’s most recognized stallions and at 29 years old continues to be a relevant sire. His son Zanzibar (x Juventafee/Farmer) was third in the 2013 USEF Developing Grand Prix Dressage Horse Championships. Consul is also the sire of Judgement ISF, winner of nearly $1.5 million in prize money in show jumping, four-star eventer Critical Decision, as well as numerous other athletes in all disciplines. Consul bred his first mares in North America in 1989 so his oldest foals in this country are 23 years old. Judgement ISF is from his second North American crop.

Here, we interview ISFs Assistant Broodmare Manager Andrea Bomkamp and Breeding Manager Meghan de Garay about keeping Consul healthy and happy through his senior years.

The Horse: What is Consul's daily routine like? Is it similar to that of the younger stallions?

Andrea Bomkamp: Consul gets hand-walked and hand-grazed twice a day. He does not like being turned loose in a field and will pace and walk the gate area, upsetting himself. He used to go out in a paddock, but he is very sensitive to bugs – he really doesn’t like them at all! The other stallions are turned loose in a paddock daily, weather permitting.

The Horse: How is Consul's diet different from the younger stallions' diet? Does he get any supplements?

AB: Consul is a very picky eater and has gotten pickier with age. He eats only sweet feed because that is the only feed he will eat. He also gets alfalfa, which most of the stallions do not get. We also hand-pick grass to be fed to him several times a day in his stall. This helps get extra fluid in his digestive system, plus it’s just healthy for him. The only supplement he will eat is his Thyro-L. He also gets Cool Blue Gatorade powder in one of his water buckets. It’s the only flavor that he likes.

The Horse: Is he exercised on a regular basis? What is his exercise routine like?

AB: Hand-walking 10-15 minutes twice a day.

The Horse: He's available for breeding via frozen semen—is he still collected regularly?

Meghan de Garay: He was collected for cooled semen until the end of the 2011 breeding season, so he was collected until he was 27. We froze a lot of his semen over the years so we have really good frozen available for breeders.

The Horse: What's his personality like? He looks like a fun horse!

AB: Very fun! He loves attention and likes to show off. He still thinks he’s five years old a lot of the time!

The Horse: In your opinion, what's been the key to keeping this 29-year-old horse looking and feeling young?

AB: Keeping a very close eye on him and keeping him as happy as we can.

The Horse: Is there anything you'd like to add?

AB: I fell in love with Consul thru ISF advertisements I would see on the Internet many years before I even started working here. It has been wonderful being able to see this horse every day and to have him look for me every morning for that daily carrot.

MD: Consul has been here since he was four years old. He arrived in the fall of 1988 and really grew up at ISF. I have been here since 1987 so I kind of grew up here too! I have known him the entire time he’s been here so for me personally he holds a special place deep in my heart.

Many thanks to Christine DeHerrera, Andrea Bomkamp, and Meghan de Garay for helping us learn more about this senior horse superstar! If you'd like to find out more about him, or any of the other Warmblood or Friesian stallions ISF stands, visit www.ironspringfarm.com.

Now you know how ISF keeps Consul happy and healthy. How do you keep your senior horses looking and feeling young?

About the Author

Erica

Erica Larson, News Editor, holds a degree in Journalism with an external specialty in Equine Science from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddleseat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in three-day eventing with her OTTB, Dorado. Erica enjoys photography in her spare time.

Comments

The views expressed in the posts and comments of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Horse or Blood-Horse Publications. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author. All readers are encouraged to leave comments; all points of view are welcome, but comments that are discourteous and/or off-topic may be removed.

Love this article! I have admired Consul and the other stars of ISF for many years as well. Would love to read more articles on the care given to other famous senior horses. I have found that the key to keeping my 21-year old mare happy is catering to her specific preferences and quirks as well (she doesn't like to be stabled next to other horses, but she likes being turned out with them!)

Sarah

11 Oct 2013 5:12 PM

Loved this video (and the inside scoop on Consul)!

Alexandra

14 Oct 2013 8:11 AM

Amazing how good he looks at 29. Thank you for sharing!

Lance

15 Oct 2013 1:09 PM

It is so fantastic to see horses that age with grace and dignity. I have an Arabian gelding that I purchased in 1978 when he was 1 1/2 years old. He will be 37 in April 2014. We had some wonderful times when we could both go for our rides. He has been retired from riding for a number of years due to severe arthritis, which almost ended his life two years ago. With a great vet advising me on medication, feed, and exercise he is in better shape now than he was six and seven years ago.

I also have owned a 26 year old Arabian mare since she was weaned. The gelding was the best babysitter she could have had. He kept her out of fences, and basically showed her how to act. She and my gelding have been together for the last 26 years. Yes, they are a little herd bound to each other, but that is 'human', right?

Fortunately, she does not have arthritis, so is currently being re-trained and ridden. She looks and acts like a five to ten year old. My gelding still looks after her to keep her out of trouble, and shows her what she needs to do when she gets confused, or shows her stubborn streak.

Besides the best feed, shelter, and care that can be given, I truly believe that a lasting friendship between equines is just as important as it is to people. My horses seem to keep each other challenged and young at heart.